Closure for containers



1942- B. STICKNEY 2,305,746

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed July 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 22, 1942. B. STICKNEY CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed July 17, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Brewster Stickney, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application July 1'7, 1940, Serial No. 346,035

Claims.

This invention relates to closures for bottles, tubes, cans, and other containers in which liquid,

semi-liquid, soft plastic or powdered dentifrices,

skin lotions, soaps, polishes, sauces, and materials of similar characteristics are packed, and from which the contents are discharged from time to time in relatively small quantities.

One object of the present invention is to provide a closure for containers of the types noted above by which relatively small but adequate quantities of the contents of the container will be measured uniformly, to eliminate wastage, and which may be sold with and as a part of the original package, separately as an accessory ,to replace the ordinary closure of the container, or distributed as an advertising novelty.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device of a minimum number of simple parts adaptable to manufacture under mass production methods, by automatic machinery, to reduce the cost to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to construct the dispensing closure device in such a manner that it will serve, for example, as a tooth brush holder when applied to a bottle containing liquid dentifrice; and in such a manner that the handle of the tooth brush may be utilized, when packed with the container inside an outer original package, or when being carried in a traveling bag, trunk, etc., as a retaining link between relatively movable parts of the device, to prevent accidental ejection of the contents of the container.

The construction and operation of various representative forms of the device will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of one form of container equipped with a dispensing cap constructed in accordance with the principles of t'he present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cap shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the container and cap in dispensing position;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate modifications of the device.

In the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the body I of the closure element is in the form of a nipple-shaped cap. However, the closure may be of any desired external shape and may be composed of any desired material. Preferably the cap I is composed of one of the various well Bakelite, etc., which may be readily molded to the desired shape.

The body I of the cap is provided with an internal axial bore 2 which may be molded directly therein. The bore 2 terminates at the inner end of the cap I in an enlarged internally threaded cavity 3, which is adapted to receive the externally thread'ed. neck of a bottle, tube, can, or other form of container 5.

Preferably the base of the cavity 2 is provided with an annular groove 8 for reception of a sealing ring 'I-which is adapted to be pressed into sealing contact with the end surface 8 of the neck 9 of the container 5.

The opposite outer end of the internal bore 2 is closedby a head I!) which is molded integral with the body I. The head I0 is counter-bored for reception of a tubular piston rod II which extends longitudinally through and in axial alignment with the internal bore 2 and projects beyond the opposite ends respectively of the body I.

Adjacent the outer end III of the body I, the tubular piston rod II is provided with a collar I2 to which is secured a U-shaped stirrup-like element I3 composed of resilient metal and including two correspondingly shaped side pieces I4, I4 arranged in parallel spaced relation to each other, with a space I5 therebetween. Each I'l and isfprovided with an external collar I8.

Secured: to the tubular rod II, in axially spaced relation to the collar I5, is a second collar I9. Slidablymounted on the tubular piston rod II, intermediate the collars I8 and I9, is a piston 29 which is adapted to fit snugly within and be movknown modern plastic materials, or hard rubber,

able longitudinally of the internal bore 2 of the cap body I.

'As shown in Fig. l, the collar I9 is normally spaced below the inner or normally lower open end of the cylinder bore 2. The piston 20 normally rests, by gravity solely, against the upper surface of the collar I8. Immediately above the upper end of the piston 20 the tubular piston rod II is provided with a transverse passage 2I.

When it is desired to elect a measured quantity of the contents :0 of the container 5, for example, onto the bristles 22 of a tooth brush 25, the container 5 is tilted to a suitable angle to cause the contents a: of the container to flow around the outer surface of the piston 20, through the neck 9 of the container, and into the cylindrical bore 2 in the body 5 of the closure. The head portion 25a of the brush 25 is then inserted through the aligned openings l5, H6 in the stirrup side plates I l, M respectively, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. Outward movement of the stirrup l3, by pressure applied manually through the back of the head 25a of the brush 25 against the cross pieces 25 at the outer ends of the brush receiving openings IE, it in the side pieces I4, I4 respectively, will move the stirrup I3 from its normal full line position in Fig. 4 to its operative position shown by broken lines therein.

The above noted movement of the stirrup I3 will first cause the piston to move into and seal the open end of the cylindrical bore 2, trapping a measured quantity of the contents a:

in said cylindrical bore between the one end of the piston which normally faces the open end of the bore 2 and the head Ill closing the opposite end of said cylindrical bore.

Continued movement of the stirrup I3 will move the piston 20 correspondingly through the cylindrical bore 2 toward the closed end III thereof and cause the quantity of the contents :1: of the container 5 which has been trapped and isolated in the vbore 2 to be forced into and through the transverse passage 2! of the tubular piston rod II, into and through the longitudinal or axial passage 27 of said tubular piston rod and out of the open end 28 of the tubular piston rod II, in the space I5 between the side plates I4, I4 of the. stirrup I3 onto the bristles 22 of the brush 25, as illustrated in broken lines at ml in Fig. 4.

The brush 25, with its measured quantity of the preparation a: thereon, may then be used for its intended purpose and the container 5 returned to its normal upright position shown in Fig. 1.

The snug fit of the piston 20 in the cylindrical bore 2 will normally maintain the stirrup I3 in an extended position, with the collar IS on the piston rod II resting against the normal upper surface of the piston 20. By forcing the stirrup l3 downwardly manually, the piston 26 is moved in the opposite direction Within the cylindrical bore 2 and out the lower open end thereof, until the collar 12 rests on the head Ill of the cap I. The piston Zfi will then move by gravity along the rod II until it rests on the upper end of the collar l8, as shown in Fig. 1.

As noted above, the piston 25 is movable relative to the rod I I between the collars I8 and I9 and in so doing it keeps the transverse passage 2| in the tubular piston rod II from becoming I clogged by small accumulations, of the preparation forming the contents :1: of the container 5, hardening or solidifying adjacent the passage 2|.

Furthermore, the relative movement between the piston 29 and rod II will permit the piston 2|] to slide on the rod and close the passage 2| against the escape ofthe' contents :1: when the container is tilted, either accidentally or purposely, and Will maintain the passage 2| closed until the stirrup I3 is moved in the manner previously described, whereupon the pressure of the material trapped in the bore 2 will force the piston 29 outwardly into contact with the collar I8 and expose the passage 2| for entrance of the trapped material into the longitudinal passage 21 of the rod II, in ejecting the measured quantity of the contents from the container as previously described. V

The space I5 between the side plates I4, I4 of the stirrup I 3 is preferably slightly less than the thickness of the handle 25b of the brush 25. The side pieces I4, I4 and the cross piece 23, which connects said side pieces and which is secured to the collar I2, are preferably punched from a single sheet of resilient metal. As a result of this construction the handle 25b of the brush 25 may be inserted between the side plates I4, I4 of the stirrup I3 which will then function as a spring clip to support the brush 25 firmly when not in use.

In order to prevent accidental dispensing of the contents :1: during shipping or when the container 5 is packed in ones luggage, the handle 25?) of the brush is adapted to function as a link between the movable stirrup I3 and the body I of the closure, and for this purpose one end of the brush 25 may be swung downwardly into the broken line position shown in Fig. 1, wherein the one end of the handle 25b is resiliently gripped by and between the side plates i4, I4 of the stirrup I3 and a relatively spaced portion of the handle 25b is gripped by and between a pair of spring fingers 30, 30 which project laterally from the body portion 1, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

For the sake of simplicity, the fingers 35, 30 constitute the ends of a continuous spring wire. This wire also includes an annular portion 3! which is adapted to be seated in a circumferential groove 32 formed in the body portion I, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

For original shipping purposes the handle 25b of the brush 25 may be supplanted by any form of link element, for example, as by a strip of wood, cardboard, etc. which may bear printed instructions or advertising matter, or by a wire or cord.

If the device is to be used for dispensing liquid soap, for example, the stirrup element may be gripped in one hand in a manner to direct the liquid from the open end 28 of the tubular piston rod I I into the palm of the hand, with the device tilted as shown in Fig. 4, and held in the other hand. The stirrup I3 may then be moved outwardly from the full line position to the broken line position, to squirt the measured quantity of liquid trapped in the cylindrical bore 2 into the pahn of the hand which is gripping the stirrup I3. Obviously, under these circumstances, the stirrup, which broadly functions as the means for operating the piston, may take any desired form, for example, as a simple knob with a central bore forming a continuation of the central bore of the tubular rod II, as shown in Fig.6.

In the device shown in Fig. 5 the construction corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1, with the exception that the piston 20a is rigidly connected to the tubular piston rod Ila and the collar I8 and I9 are eliminated, the transverse passage Zla being disposed immediately adjacent the upper end of the piston 20a.

The device shown in Fig. 6 takes the form of a bottle stopper comprising a cork 35 adapted to fit snugly within the mouth 36 of a bottle 3! and provided with a disc 38 at one end adapted to rest against the end surface 39 of the bottle 31, the cork body 35 being secured to the disc 38, which may be of metal, wood, or of molded plastic material, in any well known manner, as by a waterproof adhesive.

The cork body 35 is provided with a metallic thimble 49 which forms a cylindrical bore 2b for reception and operation of a piston-20b which is secured to one end of a tubular piston rod I It, said tubular piston rod being provided with a transverse passage Zlb similar to that described above.

The one end of the thimble 40 is open to receive the piston 20b and the opposite end of said thimble is closed by a head IIIb which is bored for the passage of the tubular piston rod III). The outer end of the piston rod III) is provided with a stirrup, knob, or other operating element I3b,

as previously described. In operation, the device shown in Fig. 6 functions in substantially the same manner as described with respect to the device shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 7 shows a still further modification wherein the stirrup I3c is composed of a single bent wire having its ends secured to a collar I20 on the tubular piston rod I I0, and providing an opening I60 large enough to accommodate a shoe brush or polish dauber.

In this case, the body Ic, with the bore 2c formed therein is held in the neck 90 of the container 50 by a crimped ring 45 or the like.

The piston 20cis secured to the inner end of the piston rod I I and operates in the same manner as previously described when the device is tilted and the back of the applicator etc. is pressed against the cross bar of the stirrup I3c.

The structure shown in Fig. 8 is adapted primarily for sauces, catsup and other bottled dressings, etc. In this instance, the axial opening 40 in the neck 9d of the bottle or jar 5d serves as the cylindrical bore for reception and movement of the piston d, which may be rigidly secured to the tubular piston rod I Id, as in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, or which may be slidably mounted on said piston rod between collars Id and l9d, as in Figs. 1 and 4. The tubular rod is also provided with a transverse passage 2 I d.

The piston rod IIcZ, in this case, projects through a metal cap Id and sealing disc Id. The sealing disc is centered with respect to the axial opening 40, and held tightly against the end surface 8d of the neck 9d by the cap Id which may be of the ordinary crimped-edged type, with portions 4|, 4| forced in and under a circumferential bead 42 formed on the end of the neck of the bottle.

The cap Id and disc Id close the upper or outer end of the axial cylindrical opening in which the piston 20d is adapted to operate, the lower or inner end being open and convergent to receive the piston 20d where the neck 9d flares into the wider body portion 5d of the bottle.

The outer end of the tubular piston rod N11 is provided with an oif-set stirrup I3d, which is adapted to receive a persons finger, for example, for actuating the piston rod Ild and consequently the piston 20d into, within, and out of the cylindrical bore 40. The stirrup I3a has a lug or collar I2d on one side thereof, in which the upper or outer end of the tubular piston IId is secured.

If desired, the extreme outer end of the tubular piston rod IId may terminate in a plane below that of the upper end of the collar I201, and the upper end of the collar IZd may be dished or countersunk, as indicated at 43, concentric to the axis of the rod IId, to cause any particles or drops of the contents of the bottle which may adhere to the end of the tubular rod IId to run back into the tube rather than down the outside of the collar I2d onto the cap and bottle.

After an ejection from the outer end of the tubular piston rod has been effected, inward movement thereof, and consequently of the piston in the cylindrical bore, creates a suction at the outer end of the rod, drawing any particles of the contents of the container, which may adhere to or remain near the discharge end of the tubular piston rod, back into the tubular piston rod, thereby keeping said discharge end clean.

Obviously, if packing around the piston rod is required, as may be when the device is used with contents of light viscosity, such for example as perfumes, etc. containing a high percentage of alcohol, such packing could be employed Without departing from the spirit of the invention. In Fig. 8 the disc Id, which preferably is composed of cork, although any other suitable material may be used, will function as a packing around the piston rod Ild by merely making the bore in the disc fit the outside of the rod I Id snugly.

Should the longitudinal bore of the tubular piston rod become clogged, as when the device is being used with a heavy viscous substance, or otherwise, it is within the scope of the invention to thread the piston 20a, for example (Fig. 5), or the collar I8 (Fig. l), to the inner end of the tubular piston rod in either case, and to secure a solid rod or wire 44, having either a pointed or a blunt end 45, in the collar or piston, as shown in Fig. 5, to depend normally from the inner end of the piston rod into the container. The ram rod 44 may be used when the device is removed from the container by unscrewing the collar or piston from the tubular piston rod and passing the free end of the ram rod through the bore of the piston rod, using the piston or collar as a head for operating the ram rod.

If desired, the tip 210. (Fig. 5) of the tubular piston Ila. may extend slightly above the curved edge I6b of the brush receiving opening I6a in the stirrup I3a to be cleansed of adhering drops of the contents of the container merely by rubbing the brush across said tip 21a.

' As the various forms described above are representative it will be obvious that other modifications may be developed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A container closure provided with an axial bore closed at the outer end of the closure and open at the inner end thereof, a tubular piston rod closed at its inner end and extending axially through said bore and beyond the opposite ends thereof, a piston on the inner end of said rod for operation in said bore and normally disengaged therefrom in axially spaced relation to said open end thereof, a transverse passage in said tubular rod between the piston and the open end of said bore, and a manually operable element mounted on and carried solely by the outer end of said rod constituting the sole means for reciprocating said piston as and for the purpose described.

2. A container closure provided with an axial bore closed at the outer end of the closure and open at the inner end thereof, a tubular piston rod closed at its inner end and extending axially through said bore and beyond the opposite ends thereof, a pair of collars fixed to the inner end of the rod in spaced relation to each other, a piston slidably mounted on said rod intermediate said spaced collars for operation in said bore and normally disengaged therefrom in axially spaced relation to isaid open end thereof, a transverse passage in said tubular piston rod intermediate one of said collars and the adjacent end of said piston, and a manually operable element on the outer end of said tubular rod for actuating said piston as described.

3. A container closure including a tubular axially reciprocable rod having its inner end closed and provided with a fluid-displacing piston, said rod being further provided with an open contents-discharging end projecting from said closure, and a stirrup secured to said projecting end with an opening to receive and hold an extraneous element in alignment with the open discharge end of said rod, said element being adapted to operate said rod by contact with one end of said opening to eject a portion of the contents of the container onto said element.

4. A container closure including a tubular axially reciprocable rod having its inner end closed and provided with a fluid-displacing piston, said rod being further provided with an open discharge end projecting from the said closure, and a stirrup secured to said end for efi'ecting axial movement of said rod relative to said closure, said stirrup comprising a pair of parallel plates disposed at opposite sides respectively of said rod and provided with aligned transverse openings for receiving an extraneous element for actuating said rod and to maintain alignment of said element with the discharge end of said rod.

5. A container closure including a tubular axially reciprocable rod having its inner end closed and provided with a fluid-displacing piston, said rod being further provided with an open discharge end projecting axially from the outer end of said closure, and a stirrup secured to said end for eiiecting axial movement of said rod relative to said closure, said stirrup comprising a pair of resilient parallel laterally spaced plates disposed at opposite sides respectively of said rod and provided with aligned transverse openings for receiving an extraneous element for actuating said rod and to maintain alignment of said element with the discharge end of said rod, said spaced resilient plates being adapted to receive and hold said element therebetween when not employed in operating said rod or otherwise.

6. A container closure including a tubular axially reciprocable rod having its inner end closed and provided with a fluid-displacing piston, said rod being further provided with an open discharge end projecting axially from the outer end of said closure, 3. stirrup secured to said end for effecting axial movement of said rod relative to said closure, said stirrup comprising a pair of resilient parallel laterally spaced plates disposed at opposite sides respectively of said rod and provided with aligned transverse openings for receiving an extraneous element for actuating said rod and to maintain alignment of said element with the discharge end of said rod, and a pair of resilient fingers projecting laterally from said closure below said stirrup, said resilient plates and said resilient fingers being aligned and adapted to grip relatively spaced parts of a link therebetween to prevent accidental reciprocation of said tubular rod.

7. A container closure, a tubular axially reciprocable rod having its inner end closed and provided with a fluid-displacing piston, said rod being further provided with an open discharge end projecting axially from the outer end of said closure, a stirrup secured to said end for eiiecting axial movement of said rod relative to said closure, said stirrup comprising a pair of resilient parallel'laterally spaced plates disposed at opposite sides respectively ofsaid rod and provided with aligned transverse openings for receiving an extraneous element for actuating said rod and to maintain alignment of said element with the discharge end of said rod, and a pair of resilient fingers projecting laterally from said closure below said stirrup, said resilient plates and said resilient fingers being aligned and adapted to grip relatively spaced parts of a link therebetween to prevent accidental reciprocation of said tubular rod, said fingers constituting the ends of a continuous spring wire including an annular portion seated in a circumferential groove formed in said closure.

8. A container closure provided with an axial bore closed at the outer end of the closure and open at the inner end thereof, a tubular piston rod closed at its inner end and extending axially through said bore and beyond the opposite ends thereof, a piston on the inner end of said rod for operation in said bore and normally disengaged therefrom in axially spaced relation to said open end thereof, a transverse passage in said tubular rod between the piston and the open end of said bore, and a manually operable element including a hub portion having one of its ends secured on the outer end of said rod with said outer end of said tubular rod terminating at a plane between the opposite ends of said hub in a recess countersunk below the outer surface of the opposite end of said hub, said ele-, ment constituting the sole means for reciprocating said piston as and for the purpose described.

9. A container closure provided with an axial bore closed at the outer end of the closure and open at the inner end thereof, a tubular piston rod extending axially through said bore and beyond the opposite ends thereof, a piston on the inner end of said rod for operation in said bore and normally disengaged therefrom in axially spaced relation to said open end thereof, said piston having an internally threaded passage in axial alignment with and forming a continuation of the axial opening of said tubular piston rod, a transverse passage in said tubular rod between the piston and the open end of said bore, a manually operable element on the outer end of said rod constituting the sole means for reciprocating said piston, and an element having a threaded end screwed into said threaded passage in said piston and forming a closure plug for the inner end of said tubular piston rod with the opposite end of said plug normally depending therefrom into the container, as and for the purpose described.

10. A container closure including a tubular axially reciprocable rod having its inner end closed and provided with a fluid-displacing piston, said rod being further provided with an open contents-discharging end projecting from said closure, and a stirrup secured to said projecting end with an opening to receive and hold an extraneous element in alignment with the open discharge end of said rod, said stirrup including a cross bar for engagement by said element to operate said rod to eject a portion of the contents of the container onto said element, said open end of said tubular rod projecting beyond" the edge of said element receiving opening in said stirrup, as and for the purpose described. BREWSTER, STICKNEY. 

